Abstract
The asperities present on interacting surfaces of a bearing influence the film formation when the oil film becomes thinner and thinner. The aim of this article is to study the effect of stochastic roughness on bearing performance under thermo-piezoviscous and elastic condition using an average flow model. To investigate the present operating conditions, progressive mesh densification method as a fast and simple algorithm has been applied. The results obtained indicate that transverse roughness generates higher pressure compared to other orientational roughness at various film thicknesses. Maximum pressure, mass flow rate and load capacity are larger in transverse roughness compared to other orientational roughness for all values of hydrodynamic roughness parameters. A large sensitivity in load capacity for transverse orientation compared to longitudinal at higher film thickness and small film thickness ratios are witnessed. The frictional coefficient in longitudinal orientation is large compared to transverse orientation at all values of film thickness ratio and step ratios. Materials with low elastic modulus undergo large deformation, resulting in generation of two sharp pressure peaks. These results may possess good acceptability to practical applications for studying the effect of surface roughness under thermo-elastohydrodynamic lubrication condition.
Highlights
More attention has been given to lubricant’s flow under thin film lubrication in recent times
This study investigates the effect of stochastic roughness on performance parameters of Rayleigh step bearing under thin film lubrication
The following conclusions have been drawn from the generated results: – The nature and directional orientation of the stochastic roughness play a significant role in pressure generation
Summary
More attention has been given to lubricant’s flow under thin film lubrication in recent times. Lubricants with low viscosity are used under high load and high velocity. Under this lubrication regime, operating conditions become much more severe when surface roughness or asperities present on interacting surfaces influence the film formation. The effect of these asperities on performance parameters of the bearing cannot be ignored with reduced film thickness. Previous studies suggest that at high load and high sliding velocity, surface deformation and piezoviscous effect appear under hydrodynamic lubrication. With decrease in film thickness, the Lundberg [9] investigated that microscopic scale roughness gets imparted on engineering surfaces during finishing operations like grit blasting, lapping, and grinding. Bakolas [10] suggested that microscopic
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